104. Tokyo Idols; movie review

TOKYO IDOLS
Cert TBA
90 mins
BBFC advice: TBA

Can it be really true that middle-aged men are encouraged to stalk Japanese female singers as young as 10 by the girls and their parents?
Apparently, there are 10,000 young 'idols' who are the heroines of these single guys who adorn their homes with their music and memorabilia.
They even follow them across the country, sit in the front row of their concerts and tears fall down their cheeks when they sing sad songs.
The oldest of those who feature in Kyoko Miyake's documentary is a very young looking 21.
Rio Hiiragi tours the country and creates livestreams to accompany her concert performances where obsessed men sell her CDs and other goodies as well as lead the audience in glow-stick waving.
But what turns out is that their united fandom is a marriage replacement.
Yes, their critics claim they are too lazy to find wives so they dedicate their lives to being fans of young singers.
In itself, that would not be too unpalatable. However, I got the heebeegeebies when some of the interviewees talked about the charm of ten-year-olds because they were not fully developed.
Stranger still is why parents would allow their child to 'follow their dreams' by enabling them to be dressed in provocative short skirts or even show off midriffs.
Miyake is clever not to pronounce judgment in her documentary, allowing the audience to make their minds up for themselves.
The verdict may depend on an individual conditioning.
I suspect that in many Western countries, viewers would be aghast at the obsession of much older men in young girls.
In Japan, this is not necessarily the case. Indeed, a journalist tells of the abuse she has received because she has written negatively about the 'idols' phenomenon.
And that is just what it is. Japanese girls aspire to the level of fame which prompts middle-aged men to stick their photos on their walls.
No mistake. Watch this and let your jaws drop.

Reasons to watch: Riveting if rather disturbing documentary
Reasons to avoid: Men leering over teenage girls

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10

Director quote - Kyoko Miyake: 'Growing up in Japan was a very confusing experience and when I became of this phenomenon called idols a few years ago, it symbolised to me everything that made me feel uncomfortable."

The big question - Why would the obsession of middle-aged men in young girls be encouraged?

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